Costcutter Ceredigion Football League

IT’S only a few months since Cardigan Town gained unprecedented success in capturing five trophies and were hailed as top dogs at their level in mid Wales.

But shortly after the launch of another campaign the Magpies are seen by many as potential strugglers and likely to relinquish silverware.

The league champions lost for the first time since the 2013-14 season when going down against St Dogmaels and although cruising to a 5-1 win over Felinfach on Saturday could muster only eleven players.

Manager Seamus Doherty has been hard-pressed to put out a team in recent weeks with the likes of skipper Steve Blackford and central defender Osian Williams unavailable.

Looking on the positive side boss Doherty said: “Although it has been a bit of a hard time players are returning and we hope to have a full squad available in the near future.”

The defeat against St Dogmaels in their previous outing became a fading memory as the Magpies brushed aside a woefully weak Felinfach 5-1 while Newcastle Emlyn also recovered from a setback the previous Saturday by coming from behind to earn a 3-2 win against St Dogmaels at Parc Emlyn.

After the Saints defeat only Bargod Rangers, who emerged 3-2 winners against Aberaeron Reserves at Parc Puw, remain unbeaten.

Cardigan led 2-0 at the break thanks to strikes by Chris Morgan who netted with a diving header and midfielder Dylan Davies.

Promising teenager Tom Gardner with a superb finish increased the advantage early in the second period, Iestyn Evans powered home a header and James Evans made it a nap hand.

Fresh from their emphatic victory over arch-rivals Cardigan it appeared that St Dogmaels would also claim the scalp of last season’s league runners-up Emlyn when leading 2-1 after the opening 45 minutes.

Lee Burrows and Ioan Owen were on target for the Teifi Estuary villagers with leading marksman Peter Almond replying for the Reds.

The end-to-end tempo continued after the interval when Emlyn were indebted to goalkeeper Ian Hamilton for pulling off a string of quality saves.

Strikes by Almond and Dion Davies gave the Reds maximum points.

Bargod Rangers are third in the table after overcoming Aberaeron Reserves. The league’s joint leading hitman Robbie Jenkins was again on the scoresheet as were Jack Hewitt-Fisher and Dion Phillips.

Lampeter Town brushed aside Aberporth 8-1 at North Road while New Quay completed back-to-back successes with a 5-1 win over Pencader at Parc Arthur.

In Division Two unbeaten Cilgerran Rovers have their sights firmly set on promotion and the title after romping to an 8-1 away win over Llandysul Reserves.

Teenager Louis Harding the former Cardigan striker had his shooting boots on as he hit a hat-trick, much-travelled front-runner Jonny James bagged a brace of goals and Mathew Williams, Gary Evans and John Williams also found the net.